Brick-kiln.



No. 852,404. E' WEISS- PATENTED APR. 30, 19o?.

I BRICK KILN.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5.1906.

No. 852,404. PATENTED APR. 30. 1907.

E. WEISS.

BRICK KILN.

AHLIUATION FILED rBB.5.19os.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1li Neill! rlrll: Cc.. YAINIIIGNI. IL cv 10.852.404. PATBNTED APR. 30.11907.

E. WEISS. BRICK KILN.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5.1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNTTED STATES rrrrnnfr enrich.

BRICK-KILN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 30, 1907'.

Application filed February 5, 1906. Serial No. 299,465.

To (tl/Z who/nf t 11m/y concern:

Be it kno'wn that I, EDWARD Weiss, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brick-Kilns; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in brick kilns and has special reference to the employment of underground conduits and dampers, whereby superfluous heat from any kiln of a series may be conducted to another kiln for the purpose of drying out the brick of the latter and preparing them for the subse quent burning operation.

By virtue of my improved construction it is practicable to burn brick with much less expenditure for fuel since the heat taken from any kiln and conducted to another kiln is that which in ordinary constructions passes to the stack and is without utility after leaving the kiln wherein the heat is gen erated.

ln my improved construction l employ a system of underground conduits having dampers located to control the passage of heat and the products of combustion and conduct the same to the stack or to another kiln through the instrumentality of a horizontally disposed damper which is adapted to close a port at the top of the flue. This port is open during the preparatory stage of drying the kiln by the use of the superfluous heat from another kiln- However, after the surplus heat is exhausted and lires are kindled in the furnaces of the kiln whose contents have been subjected to the preparatory drying step, the horizontal valve is closed to shut off communication with the flue adjacent the iire box or furnace of the kiln.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction as well as the function it is intended to perform, l will proceed to describe the same in detail reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

ln this drawing, Figure 1 is a horizontal section taken through a number of kilns above the floor or ground surface. Fig. 2 1s a similar section taken through the system of underground ilucs or conduits, the position of the kilns being indicated by dotted lines. F ig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section of one of the kilns also cutting an underground flue, the parts being shown on a larger scale. F ig. 4 is a horizontal section of one of the flues illustrating a damper. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken through one of the hre boxes, showing a device for closing the same during the preparatory drying step to which the contents of the kiln are subjected.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 designate a series of kilns connected with conduits A, B, O, D and H extending in one direction and intersecting conduits E, F and G extending in the opposite direction or transversely of the plant. This flue system is connected with stacks 7 and 8 located at opposite extremities of the plant, the stack 7 being more especially intended to receive the products of combustion from the furnaces; while the stack S is intended to carry ofl" the steam generated in drying the bricks preparatory to the performance of the burning function proper. Vithin these underground flues of the end furnaces are located dampers 9, 10 and 11 and of the intermediate furnaces dampers 12, 13, 14 and 15, while in the longitudinal flues outside of the furnaces, are located dampers 15, 16, 17, 1S, 19, 20, 21 and 22. These dampers are all of substantially the same construction and may bc opened and closed at will for the purpose of cutting off or supplying heat from one furnace to another or for the purpose of directing the products of combustion and the steam generated during the drying process, to the stacks.

As shown in the drawing cach furnace is provided with a number of 'fireplaces 23 and a number of other -lire laces 24. The firelaces 24 are located directly above the unilerground flues and the bottom of each 'lireplace 24 is provided with a horizontally disposed damper 25 adapted to close a port 26 comnnmicating with the underground flue. This port 26 when the damper 25 is open connnunicates with a pocket 27 located inside of the lire box in which the fuel 29 for supplying the furnace with heat, is placed.

During the operation of drying the bricks of any kiln or subjecting them to the preliminary step preparatory to the regular burning IOC IIO

` or moved to the dotted line position in Fig. 3.

1 into the top rThe heat is then at liberty to pass from an underground flue upwardly into the pocket 27 on one side of a damper 14 (see Fig. 3), of the furnace and then downwardly-through the perforated floor 3() of' the furnace, into the iiue on the opposite side of the damper 14, and thence to a stack or to any apparatus where it is desired to still further utilize the waste heat or products of combustion.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my improved device will be readily understood. Assuming that the bricks in kiln 1 are being burned, and the horizontal dampers 25 are closed, the vertical dampers 9 and 11 are also closed, while the damper 10 is open allowing the products of combustion to pass to the stack 7. In this case it is assumed that the heat from the fire box has passed upwardly into the furnace as shown by the full line arrows in Fig. 3 and then downwardly through the fioor of the furnace into an underground Hue and thence to the stack 7. Now assuming that the bricks have been burning for several days in one of the kilns as 6 and that the burning rocess is so far completed, that while there 1s a great deal of heat in the furnace, there is very little smoke and products of combustion. It no'w becomes practicable to close the dampers 9 and 10 of this furnace, open the dampers 11 and 11A, open the damper 25 and close the damper 14 of the furnace 5. The heat will then be compelled to pass upwardly through a port 26 (see Fig. 3) and then downwardly through the perforations 1 3 in the floor of the furnace. In this event the valve 15 of the furnace 5 would be closed, and the valve 12 open to allow the steam from the kiln to pass to the central flue C. The damper 16 of this fiue would be closed and the damper 15 open, in which event the steam would pass toward the right in the flue C, into a transverse fiue G and thence to the stack 8 assuming that the valves 21 and 22 are open. In this Way or substantially in this manner, the surplus heat of any furnace may be carried to another furnace and utilized for drying purposes.

It is advisable to have two stacks 7 and 8, one for the products of combustion and the other for the steam, since if the steam is allowed to pass to the products-ofcombustion stack it interferes with the draft.

To facilitate the manipulation of the dampers 25 they are provided with curved handles 25a.

The fireplaces 28`are closed at the top and in front by a closure 35, when the hot air from another kiln is being utilized through a port 26. As soon, however, as the port 26 is closed by the damper 25 and a fire is kindled in a fireplace 28, the closure is left out for obvious reasons.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination of a brick kiln having a fireplace, an underground flue below the fireplace and communicating therewith by a valve-controlled port, a damper located in the flue between the port and the bottom ofy the kiln which is perforated to communicate with an extension of the fiue on the side of the damper opposite the port, and another kiln communicating with the first named kiln by way of the fiue and port.

2. The combination with a number of brick kilns having perforated bottoms, underground flues communicating with said bottoms, fire-places located above said fiues and communicating therewith by ports, horizontally disposed dampers for controlling the ports located between the flues and the fire places of the kilns and vertically disposed ampers located in said flues between the ports and the bottoms of the kilns which are perforated, for controlling the direction of the heat and products of combustion.

3. In a brick kiln construction,.the combination of a number of kilns, a series of underground flues, the bottoms of the kilns being perforated to communicate with the flues below, the kilns being provided with fireplaces located above the flues, the construction being provided with dampers located in the flues between the fire places and the perforated bottoms of said kilns whereby the heat from any kiln may be caused to pass upwardly into another kiln and downwardly through the perforated bottom of the kiln and thence into the conduits below for the purpose set forth.

4. In a brick kiln construction, the combination of a number of kilns, a series of underground conduits, the kilns being provided with perforated bottoms communicating with the said conduits, vertical dampers ournaled in the conduits, and ports formed in the bottom of the kilns, the latter being provided with fireplaces communicating with the said conduits through the said ports, and horizontally disposed dampers for controlling the said ports located between the flues and the fire places of the kilns.

IIO

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDI/VARD WEISS. Witnesses:

DENA NELSON, A. J. OBRIEN. 

